A Rome weekend guide for yogis
Rome has been my second home for many years, and I’ve been to this beautiful city countless times. It was so exciting to come back after a long time and see how the city has developed a more modern vibe while still keeping its ancient character.
Rome is one of my favorite cities in the world, and what I love most is how it combines ancient buildings and historic landmarks with modern shops, restaurants, and bars.
I spent almost a week there this time because I took some yoga workshops and also taught at a studio, which was an amazing experience.
I also showed someone around who had never been to Rome before, and this is what we did and what I would recommend to anyone visiting the city for the first time.
A Walking Tour
Start at the Colosseum and admire its majestic beauty. Take a moment to think about the fact that it was built around AD 80 and was once the site of brutal gladiator fights and other spectacular events.
Walk around the Colosseum and look for some beautiful photo spots. If you have enough time, consider visiting the inside or booking a guided tour. Just make sure to get your tickets in advance.
From the Colosseum, walk towards Piazza Venezia along Via dei Fori Imperiali. On your way, you can admire the impressive ruins of the ancient Roman Forum and the Imperial Forums. Take your time, enjoy the views, and stop for some beautiful photos along the way. Continue straight until you reach Piazza Venezia and the impressive Vittoriano.
From there, head towards the Pantheon, famous for its enormous concrete dome. The Pantheon is a church today, but it was originally built as an ancient Roman temple. Entrance used to be free, but this has changed, so make sure to get your tickets in advance, as there is usually a long line.
From the Pantheon, walk straight to Fontana di Trevi, one of Rome’s most famous fountains, known for its beautiful statues and the tradition of throwing a coin into the water. According to the tradition, if you throw a coin into the fountain, you will return to Rome one day.
The next stop is Piazza di Spagna, a famous square known for its beautiful Spanish Steps. You can walk up the steps towards Villa Borghese and enjoy a beautiful view along the way.
You can spend some time in the park, walk around, relax, ride a bike, or visit the Borghese Gallery. If you want to visit the gallery, make sure to book your tickets well in advance, as it's impossible to get a ticket at short notice.
From there, we took an Uber to Vatican City. If you have enough time, you can of course walk there instead. On the way, visit Piazza Navona, a famous square with three beautiful fountains. From there, continue towards the Vatican and walk across Ponte Sant’Angelo, passing Castel Sant’Angelo along the way.
If you want to visit the Vatican Museums, make sure to get your tickets in advance. I would recommend booking at least a couple of weeks before your trip to Rome. There are third-party sellers offering tickets all over the city, but their tickets can cost up to three times as much.
The Vatican Museums are home to famous artworks by artists such as Michelangelo and Raphael, as well as ancient statues and the Sistine Chapel. The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel was painted by Michelangelo and depicts famous scenes from the Bible.
You can only visit the Sistine Chapel as part of a visit to the Vatican Museums, while St. Peter’s Basilica is free to enter. The Pope usually appears on Sundays at 12 p.m. for the Angelus prayer, when he is in Rome.
Moving Around
Rome doesn’t have the best public transport, and I always prefer walking around as much as possible. So you’ll definitely need Google Maps. When I travel, I usually buy an eSIM from Airalo, and it usually works quite well.
There are three metro lines (although the third one is still under construction), and there are lots of buses to take you around the city. However, public transport can be a bit chaotic at times. Uber also works quite well in Rome.
Yoga
I came to Rome to take part in Kino MacGregor’s workshops who is a well-known Ashtanga yoga teacher. The workshops took place at AURA Sacred Space, a beautiful new studio in a lovely neighborhood close to the Vatican. I loved the studio because the yoga room is very spacious and bright, and the mats and all the props are of very good quality. Plus, there are three changing rooms with bathrooms, and everything is very clean and comfortable. The studio owners are amazing, and you can really see how much they love what they do. I can absolutely recommend taking a class there when you're in Rome.
Another studio is Zem Yoga Roma, where I taught a Vinyasa class. The studio is located in the heart of Rome and is also very well equipped. It has an international atmosphere, which means that all classes are taught in English. They also offer a lot of heated classes.
For those who love Ashtanga Yoga, I can recommend checking out Ashtanga Shala Roma. They offer daily Mysore classes, and the teacher is great. I could tell that she has a lot of knowledge and experience, and she also gave me some very good adjustments.
Food
Rome has amazing Italian food. As a vegetarian, it’s super easy to find plenty of options. And if you don’t want to eat pasta and pizza all the time, I can recommend grabbing a bowl at one of the many poke restaurants around the city. They are a great option if you’re looking for something fresh and healthy.
One of the most famous Roman dishes is Pasta alla Carbonara, and I was able to find a really good vegan version at Buddy Veggy Restaurant Café. I can definitely recommend this place, and it’s right in the city center.
This time, I didn’t make it to Trastevere, but I would definitely recommend going there for dinner. It’s a very authentic neighborhood across the Tiber, with lots of great restaurants and bars.
Conclusion
Rome is always worth a trip, and although I’ve been there more than a hundred times, there is always something new to discover. The city is full of ancient architecture, beautiful churches and squares, as well as cute bars and restaurants. I could come back again and again without ever getting bored because there is simply so much to see and do.
Romans are very friendly and talkative, and as I always say, being in Italy is so much more fun if you learn a little bit of Italian before your trip. But don’t worry, you’ll get by just fine with English.
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